The inside scoop on food in Los Angeles

Keeping cool in L.A.: Today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 2, 2011 | 3:14
pm

Whether part of the food truck scene or as a creamery's menu staple, ice cream sandwiches are a frozen treat geniusly invented to get the best of both worlds -- cookies and ice cream -- in the realm of sweets. Angelenos can get their fix from local producers with flavors, from classic to wacky, to satisfy a spectrum of cravings during summer's warm months. Or, as it so happens, on National Ice Cream Sandwich Day.

Beachy Cream: Made in small batches with local and organic ingredients, Beachy Cream’s ice cream sandwiches are made with a spin on names and flavors sure to fit the SoCal scene: Key Lime Cowabunga, Strawberry Surfer Girl, Surfin' Safari Chocolate Chip and Ginger Wipe Out. These tasty treats can be found on the streets of Malibu, at select stores and online. Beachycream.com.

Father's Office: A recent addition to the menu, ice cream sandwiches are now offered at the Culver City location. Creations include the hazelnut and foie gras ice cream on oatmeal cookies and the buttermilk ice cream and raspberry sorbet on lemon shortbread. 3229 Helms Ave., L.A., (310) 736-2224, fathersoffice.com.

Sweet Rose Creamery: Located in the Brentwood Country Mart, the shop bakes its cookies on site daily, and ice cream flavors change regularly in accordance with what's in season at the farmers market. Classics include fresh mint with homemade chocolate chip and salted caramel while August's ice cream flavors include melon, summer corn, peaches 'n' cream and watermelon granita, among others. 225 26th St., Ste. 51, Santa Monica, (310) 260-2663, sweetrosecreamery.com.

More after the jump:

Diddy Riese: Choose from 10 varieties of freshly baked cookies and 12 Dreyers ice cream flavors for a custom-made sandwich. The store attracts not only students to its Westwood location but also anyone willing to commute to the Westside for a $1.50-ice-cream-sandwich steal. 926 Broxton Ave., Westwood, (310) 208-0448, diddyriese.com.

Coolhaus: Naming flavor combinations after inspirational architects and architectural movements, the Coolhaus duo Natasha Case and Freya Estreller have landed the company late-night feeding frenzy gigs all over L.A. Available ice cream and cookie flavors are extensive, including favorites such as brown butter and candied bacon ice cream on chocolate chip cookies and the Frank Berry (strawberry ice cream on snicker doodle cookies). Eatcoolhaus.com.

Other mobile trucks offering ice cream sandwiches include King Kone, whose ice cream (chocolate or vanilla) is sandwiched between cookies and rolled in a topping like chocolate chips, and Chunk-n-Chip, with sandwiches including the Snowflake (eggnog, bourbon and toffee ice cream on snicker doodle cookies), the Moo-lan Rouge (white choco-fudge ice cream on red velvet cookies) and the Bahama Mama (pineapple coconut ice cream on white chocolate, nuts and coconut cookies) on the menu.

Mashti Malone's: Exotic flavors such as rosewater saffron with pistachios, orange blossom and lavender can be nestled between a pair of wafers for an Iranian take on the ice cream sandwich. 1525 N. La Brea Ave., L.A., (323) 874-0144, mashtimalone.com.

The same can be said for Saffron and Rose. White rose, cucumber, fig and cantaloupe are some of the vibrant flavor options at the storefront on Westwood Boulevard. 1387 Westwood Blvd., L.A., (310) 477-5533, golobolbol.org.

It’s It: An oldie but goodie. Yes, we know it's not native to L.A. soil but after this San Francisco staple traveled beyond the Bay Area to meet the mouths of ice cream lovers farther afield, the sandwich made of oatmeal cookies and vanilla ice cream dipped in dark chocolate, can now be found in grocery stores and corner markets all over L.A. Itsiticecream.com.